London Banter - View Single Post - Which Oyster for youngster moving to London

Roland Perry · September 20th 12, 01:18 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In message , at 05:21:00
on Thu, 20 Sep 2012, remarked:
Card-bloat is getting significant. These days a student will have two
ID cards (one for the department and one for the Students Union) and
possibly a third if their hall of residence has rfid door locks. Then
there's a driving licence (for proof of age) and at least one debit
card. Add an Oyster and a Railcard, and it's already reached seven!

Despite being collegiate, Cambridge University seems to manage with one ID
card which also opens doors etc. Some students need passports for proof of
age.

One of the nice things about Cambridge is that the Collegiate system is
better at co-ordinating such things than other Unis where the
accommodation service is somewhat disjoint. Also the colleges fulfil the
role of the social aspects of the Students Union (do Cambridge students
get an NUS card these days, and what use is it in the City?)

Finally, the colleges are generally run as secure campuses, whereas
other Unis tend to have open accommodation sites and separate key-entry
to each "staircase" limited to the residents therein. [How does
Churchill handle this issue?]

And card bloat is not limited to the young. I have sometimes wondered if
some idiot age challenged me whether they would accept my bus pass as good
enough photo ID proof of age.

The tickets I have here for the "freshers ball" (run by the Students
Union) specifically state that Student ID is not accepted by the venues
as proof of being over 18.

I've often wondered if my Amex card embossed "Member since a date in
the 70's" proves I'm over 18?
--
Roland Perry